(5) DOMINICK MYSTERIO vs. REY MYSTERIO
Dominick Mysterio shoved his father, Rey Mysterio as the bell rang. Rey and Dominick locked up and jockeyed for position. Dom got the advantage over his father, dropping him to the mat. Dominick climbed the ropes and posed toward the crowd, who pelted him with boos. Dom wrestled Rey to the mat out of a waist-lock. Rey returned to his feet quickly and spilled Dom the floor. Rey challenged him to return to the ring. Dom slid in quickly, but Rey remained in control, sending Dom to the ropes and catching him with a Hurricanrana. Dom stumbled to the corner and begged off.
Rey tossed Dom into the turnbuckle. His shoulder crashed into the ring post. Rey removed his belt and cracked it over Dom’s backside repeatedly. Dominick fell to the outside in horror. He turned his attention to his mother and sister. He took Aliyah’s red solo cup and splashed its contents in her face. Rey grew incensed. He jumped to defend Aliyah. This allowed Dom to attack him from behind and retake control. Dom slammed Rey off the ring apron, then tossed him in the ring. He stepped over Mysterio’s downed body and posed on the turnbuckle again, soliciting more boos.
The match crossed 5:15 as Dominick applied an abdominal stretch to his father in the center of the ring. Cole wondered what will happen if Dominick wins. Mysterio fought out of the hold and hit the ropes, dropping under Dom’s feet and tying his arms up. Mysterio leapt to the top rope, but Dom held on and gave him an arm drag. He pulled his father into a sit-out driver for a cover and two count. Dom guillotined Rey across the top rope, leaping to the floor himself. He dragged Rey to the floor and blew his nose on him. Dom returned to his family at ringside, this time focusing on his mother. He told her to shut up again. Angie slapped him in the face. Rey returned to slam Dom into the ring post. He gave Angie a kiss, then tossed his son into the ring.
Mysterio caught Dom with a seated Senton off the top rope. He followed up with a standing cross-body for a cover and two count just as the match passed 8:00. Dom recovered enough to whip Rey to the ropes. Mysterio leapt over him and rolled him into a cover for a two count. Rey played to the crowd and willed Dominick to his feet. He gave him a kick to the gut and set up for the Three Amigos. Dominick blocked it and shoved him toward the corner. Damian Priest and Finn Balor appeared at ringside.
Rey charged at his son, but Dom flipped him up into Powerbomb position and tossed him over his head. Rey hit the top turnbuckle hard and collapsed. Dom set up for his own iteration of the Three Amigos. He hit the first, but Rey slid down the back on the second. He tripped Dom into position for the 619. Rey hit it. He climbed to the top rope. Finn Balor leapt onto the apron, grabbing the referee’s attention. Meanwhile, Damian Priest held Rey’s leg and tripped him off the ropes. Rey and Dom struggled to their feet at 11:15. Dom whipped Rey chest first into the turnbuckle. Rey stumbled backward and Dom tossed him to the floor. Judgment Day surrounded Mysterio.
Legado Del Fantasma exploded onto the screen, attacking Judgment Day. Santos Escobar dove through the middle rope, taking out Damian Priest. After a flurry of action, Dom and Rey were left alone in the ring again. Dom catapulted Mysterio into 619 position. He hit the move, then climbed to the top rope. Dom straightened out on the top rope as the camera pulled back. He hit a massive frog splash for a cover and very near fall.
While Rey writhed on the mat, Dominick removed a turnbuckle pad. The referee admonished him and went to replace it. Dom used the distraction to retrieve a chain. He wrapped it around his fist and cocked it back, but Bad Bunny ripped it from his hand. Dom was spun around by the momentum. Rey kicked him in the back, draping him over the middle rope. He hit another 619, then a splash from the top rope for a cover and three count.
WINNER: Rey Mysterio in 14:30
( It felt like some of the seriousness of this match was undermined by the advertisements all over the LED boards, but, ultimately, I thought it rose to a level good enough to overcome that. No surprise that this contained a multitude of shenanigans from the Judgment Day, Legado Del Fantasma, and the Mysterio family. Aliyah and Angie’s moments were small, but hugely beneficial to the story of the match. Dominick was delectably awful, as he’s been throughout this entire run. The entrance was so ridiculously corny and absolutely perfect for his character. Rey’s homage to Eddie Guerrero on the heels of an emotional Hall of Fame speech was an excellent touch. The presentation certainly helped this match feel like a big deal. I think the finish is certainly important to note, given Bad Bunny’s involvement in next month’s Backlash Premium Live Event. It seems likely now that he’ll be involved with the Judgment Day in some way at that event in Puerto Rico.)
